Step by step, rung by rung, the Titans are climbing the AFC standings en route to what they hope is a second consecutive playoff berth.

What seemed improbable at the end of November — following a pair of one-sided divisional losses to Indianapolis and Houston — now seems far less unlikely after three consecutive victories.

Once buried at No. 10 among the conference’s postseason contenders, the Titans have moved into the eighth spot, bypassing Miami on Sunday. The clearest way to the playoffs is for Tennessee to win its final two games (one against Indianapolis), and for either Baltimore or Pittsburgh to lose one contest.

How have the Titans managed to barge their way back into postseason contention over the past three weeks?